March 8, 2023

My Friend NikkiD

Hey Everyone.

I was recently doing an interview for Rogers T.V. One of the questions I was asked was “How did the trip start and what does NikkiD mean to me?”. The short answer is that the trip was her idea and she is my Best Friend. Our story.

I first met Nikki at Walk It Off (WIO) which is the neurological recovery centre that my amazing wife, Heather, started just after I was injured to help me, and others we meet along the way, recover. Nikki was a kinesiology student doing a clinical placement at WIO and eventually was hired and became one of my Neuro-Recovery Trainers. At the very start of the pandemic, I contracted a severe respiratory illness (I am not sure if it was Covid as testing was not available at the time). I was really sick, but I did’t want to go into the hospital; I was worried that as a quadriplegic, I would end up intubated and ventilated. Heather is an Advanced Care Paramedic who had the knowledge and skill to look after me and was able to treat and keep me at home. She was often up all night helping me breath and clear my airway. With Heather’s love and support along with the help of some of my amazing paramedic friends, I was able to get over the illness and stay at home. But it was really scary and I was in bed for over 2 weeks. During this time Nikki reached out to me through email and started talking to me about a book that I had given her in our staff Christmas exchange. We decided to start an email bookclub called the PenPalBookClub with her and I as the only members :).  It was a lifeline during a really dark time. She signed her name at the end of each post as NikkiD which is how she got her nickname.

When we were able to, we began biking together after Nikki was finished work at WIO. We started doing longer and longer rides and one day she asked me if I wanted to bike across Canada with her.

While working as an Neuro-Recovery Trainer over the last 4 years, Nikki and one of our other Trainers, Rebecca, went back to school to become Licensed Manual Osteopathic Practitioners. They have started doing treatments at WIO and they are amazing! I have already felt the benefits of Osteopathic treatment. If you would like to try a treatment with either of them check out the WIO website at www.walkitoffrecoverey.org. Nikki is putting her relatively new career on hold to help me bike across Canada which is something I absolutely could not do without her. She will also be away from her partner and dog for over 4 months. You should definitely try a treatment with her before she leaves. If you can’t get in before the May long weekend, book well in advance before she returns because spots will fill up quick. I am so grateful to NikkiD for putting her life on hold and making my dream of biking across Canada happen. It would not be possible without her. That is what she means to me.

Kev

February 28, 2023

My Schooling and This Trip

Hey everyone.

I entered the 2-year paramedic program at Humber College right out of high school at the age of 18. As soon as the program was completed I was hired by Toronto EMS as a Paramedic. I was 20 years old. I had an amazing 10-year career which ended in 2009 when I sustained my Spinal Cord Injury. I had the opportunity to attend the Toronto EMS/Sunnybrook Advanced Care Paramedic Program (ACP) 3 years after I was hired and became a Level 3 Paramedic which I am extremely proud of. I loved being a paramedic. I had the opportunity to help people while working with some truly wonderful colleagues. The majority of people I went to school with and then worked with had a university degree or some other type of post-secondary education that they completed prior to entering the Paramedic Program. I always felt that this was something that I wanted to accomplish.

In 2018, almost 10 years after my spinal cord injury, I had the opportunity to go back to school at the University of Guelph Humber. The program I selected was for professionals with work experience including police officers, correctional officers, legal aids etc. I was the only Paramedic in the program. It was the same campus (Humber) where I was in residence 20 years earlier. It was one thing going back to school after being out of a classroom setting for 15 years; it was an entirely different challenge to go back to school as a quadriplegic. There were many skills I had to learn and logistics I had to figure out with a disability. I met with the student resource department at the University of Guelph before the start of my program, creating accommodations to help me navigate the program with my disability. They were amazing and inclusive, figuring out what I needed to help me succeed. I attended both in-class and online platform styles of learning and was able to work with many fantastic and kind people. I typed all my essays with the knuckle of my right thumb. I fully realize there is voice recognition software, as my wife pointed out numerous times, but it annoys me and I am stubborn.  After 4 years, in 2021, I obtained a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Justice and Public Safety from the University of Guelph. I am really proud of what I accomplished.

The reason I am talking about my professional and work experience is that it is really applicable to my trip. While establishing and sharing an accessible bike route across Canada, we will be describing each section of the route as it pertains to different levels of ability along with highlighting and hopefully fixing any potential safety issues in communities across Canada. As a cyclist there are many dangerous aspects of biking in traffic which are amplified when using a wheelchair Handcycle. As a cyclists with disabilities, I often feel exposed and vulnerable when biking on the road. We want to make it as safe as possible. As a Paramedic, I attended many Motor Vehicle Accidents where cyclists were struck and tragically these calls were usually extremely serious or fatal. As a paramedic, I will have a unique perspective and am able to identify hazardous areas. As a quadriplegic, I will be able to describe the route for many different levels of ability. My degree in Justice and Public safety dealt with public policy so I feel confident I can help identify and fix any issues and make the route safe and accessible for all.

Kev

February 21, 2023

What makes a trail accessible

I was thinking to myself that some people might be interested in what an accessible trail actually means, so I compiled a list of things that come to mind when I want to access a trail in my wheelchair:

• Single Track: In a wheelchair, I can technically fit through a single track trail. The outside diameter of my wheelchair is 26 inches. My problem is that my front drive wheel is on the trail but my two wheelchair wheels are on unpredictable uneven terrain so I may possibly tip over or get stuck. I would never attempt a single track on my own unless I was with someone I trusted who could get me back in my wheelchair if needed.

• Steep Terrain: I honestly don’t care how long a hill is. I once went up a 2km long hill in Quebec during a race at 2.0km/hr. It took me an hour. A really steep 5m hill can stop me dead in my tracks until someone can help me. In both my bikes the front wheel is the drive wheel. A steep incline can cause me to spin out and even slide backwards. Just ask Nikki. It happened last Sumer and I started sliding back toward the river!

• Hazards: A fallen tree blocking the path is an obvious one. An able-bodied person could go over, under, or around. I would be stuck. I can’t even turn around and would need to wait for assistance.  But the hazard may not be as obvious as a fallen tree. A rut in the trail caused by rainwater can stop me. An able-bodied person could just step over it.

• Camber: This refers to the slant of the trail. An off-camber trail can cause me to tip over and unfortunately most trails (due to natural terrain) slope toward the water. If I know the trail I am able to compensate and lean in the opposite direction. An unexpected change in camber can cause me to tip.

• Water: This is a mixed issue for me. I have always loved the water and I still want to be near it whenever I can, especially in nature. Some background. I was swimming in the ocean when a rogue wave picked me up and dumped me head-first onto the ocean floor. I was floating face down in the ocean for 2 minutes before I was rescued. This spring Nikki and I were biking on a country road. I had a huge spasm and ended up with my head underwater in a ditch. Luckily Nikki was there!. I hate to think what would have happened if I was alone…To make access to the water possible the area needs to be safe. There should be a flat area near the water so I don’t accidentally roll in which is also large enough for me to turn around. If there is a steep slope down to the water’s edge a guard rail is needed in case I roll out of control when going towards the water or slide back when going back up.

• Gates: there are often gates on trails which are meant to prevent use by motorized vehicles like ATVs and snowmobiles. Unfortunately, the construction of the gates also prevents access for wheelchairs and baby strollers.

• Turn arounds: In both my racing bike and Batec unit which attaches to my wheelchair I require a large area to turn around. Turn around areas which are flat and at least 4m x 4m at intermittent points along the trail would allow me to go further on the trails independently so I could cycle home if needed. Ideally turn arounds would not be much more than 2 km apart.

• Warning Signs: Unavoidable natural hazards or potentially difficult/unsafe sections should be marked with a sign with a turn around area immediately after so anyone can choose not to continue and return back the way they came.

  Kevin Mills

February 17, 2023

What Does Accessible Mean to Me?

What does accessibility mean to me? For something to be fully accessible it must be able to be used by people with all levels of ability independently. Luckily most people I meet, especially on the trail, are extremely kind and are alwaysz willing to help with whatever I need. I have tipped over on my bike multiple times and someone has always helped me. People are kind.  But for something to be truly accessible I need to be able to do it on my own safely and not need to have anyone around, or need to wait around for help to do it. As a quadriplegic I often find that things which are labelled “Accessible” are not accessible to me due to my level of function/ability. Something which a Paraplegic could do quite easily I am not able to accomplish. On the other side there are things I can do which would not be possible for someone with a higher level injury (more severe). It is important to consider all levels of function/ability when trying to make something accessible.

Stairs: If there is even 1 stair it is not accessible. I use a manual wheelchair so if am out with friends and there is only a few stairs I can get people to bump me up. Power wheelchairs are often over 500 pounds and can not be safely lifted. A person who uses a power chair would not be able get up or down even 1 stair. I understand that stairs seem obvious but I have been multiple places that consider themselves accessible because they only have 1 or 2 stairs.

Ramps: Ramps must not only be present but meet specific criteria to make them accessible and legal. I will not go through all the legal requirements but will highlight a few important points and why those requirements are important. I have attached the following link to Ontario Building codes for reference. https://www.buildingcode.online/517.html . For me the most important component is the pitch or steepness of the ramp. For legal requirements in public a ramp can not be steeper than 1:12 (Rise/Run). Although this is legally acceptable I find a ramp this steep impossible to push up by myself up and I can easily tip backwards. A 1:20 slope allows me to push my wheelchair up independently and I don’t fall backwards. On longer ramps or near any door I require a flat landing to rest. It is also a legal requirement for ramps over 9m long. This also prevents my momentum from going out of control on the way down. A landing is needed at doors as I can not take my hands off the push rim to push the button to open the doors. Also required by law.

Buttons: Buttons for doors must be on the correct side so that when the door opens it does not block the entrance. It is also really important not to place obstacles in front of the button like garbage cans etc. As a quadriplegic I find the small red buttons difficult to push and find the large pad or sensors much easier. I had a Service Dog and he struggled to hit the small red buttons (but would keep trying) but used the larger pads easily.

Service Animals: I got my Service Dog from the Guide Dogs of Canada 1 year after I was injured. I had Draco for 13 years. He was my best friend. He helped me with so much and came with me absolutely everywhere. And I mean everywhere. He accompanied me into restaurants, movies, on the plane, hospitals etc. It is really important to know and understand the legal requirements and obligations in terms of access for service animals. It is also really important to know and understand the difference between Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. There are definitely different legal requirements and obligations. I have been multiple places and have been told that “You can not bring your dog in here”. I am able to explain why my dog must accompany me and even call the police if needed but I really don’t want the concentration or argument. It becomes exhausting.

It is honestly all about an individual’s attitude to Accessibility. I don’t expect or anticipate that every where will be perfectly accessible or for everyone to know exactly what I require. As long as the individual is making an effort and willing to learn about what is needed or how they can improve to make the world more accessible for all I am ecstatic. If you see someone struggling or who may need help just ask them what they need to make it accessible.

Kevin Mills

February 7, 2023

Quad-iversary

So today is my Spinal Cord Injury anniversary. February 7th. I have been injured for 14 years today. I always find this day really hard. For the first 11 years, I drowned myself in a bottle of scotch. Eleven-year-old scotch on my 11th anniversary, 10-year-old scotch on my 10th anniversary etc. It was pretty bad scotch for the first 5 years! On my 12th anniversary, I decided to change how I saw the day and make it a celebration rather than a sad day. I invited my best friend NikkiD to come over for dinner and my amazing wife, Heather made me the best carrot cake in the world. This is my 3rd year doing this. Tonight we are having a pizza party with carrot cake for dessert.

Kevin

February 1, 2023 by Kevin Mills

UPDATE!

Hey everyone.

It is February and our trip is approaching fast! Due to logistical reasons and the amount of time it will take us to bike across Canada we need to start biking in May of this year. Plus I am not sure if Nikki will tolerate me much longer. We have submitted our application to become a registered charity to the CRA but unfortunately just learned that we will not get approval until May, possibly June. But we are going to start biking in May no matter what and we need your help to raise the funds needed to get our trip going as a Not for Profit. A few people mentioned that they had difficulties donating through our website so we have made the process easier and more streamlined. We will be having more fun fundraisers coming up. We will let you know and hope to see you and please help to make our trip possible.

Kevin